0 Basic Technique

COURSE: turning-techniques

FOCUS: This lesson introduces the basic foot technique for turning in blues dance, focusing on using the balls of the feet and maintaining a grounded, relaxed posture.

TIP & TRICKS:

• Turn on the balls of your feet, specifically the front third of the foot.
• Keep your weight slightly back, around where shoelaces start, not too far forward.
• Let your heels graze the ground lightly while turning.
• Use slippery shoes to facilitate smooth turns.
• Practice duck walks with toes apart and heels together to feel weight on the balls of the feet.
• Shift weight back and forth while turning to engage core muscles.

REMEMBER:

• Blues dance turns are more grounded than ballet or contemporary, keeping feet relaxed and close to the earth.
• Maintain a relaxed posture with toes spreading into the ground for better balance.
• Avoid hyper-focusing on knees; keep them slightly relaxed while using inner leg muscles.
• Use arms, hips, or upper body to help create torque in turns.
• The axis of weight should be further back than commonly thought for stability.
• This technique supports the blues aesthetic and grounded turns with partners.